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This is the home of award-winning composer and designer Jamie Klenetsky. Here, you will find Jamie's compositions and performances, web/graphic design portfolio, and biography. Jamie's blog, detailing her music, web, and personal lives, is below.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Praise
If you do good work, whether at your job or your art, you will be praised at one point or another. This is generally a welcome thing, of course, to feel that what you do is appreciated. However, what if the work you did was "easy"...according to your own exacting standards, of course?
There are certain projects I need to work hard on, especially longer choral works or personal web designs. However, most of what I do just doesn't take me a very long time to do. An award-winning piece of mine only took 6 hours to write (granted, it was only 2:30 minutes long, but still), my latest electronic piece only took a half hour or so (and that's only 2 minutes long again, but still). I'm a web designer by trade, and as all of us know, most of "design" is actually updating and maintenance. Once the design is in place, things can get very simple. I made exhibits for the Historic Commission, which I felt proud of, but updating them is very simple. However, I get unadulterated praise for these updates.
It makes me feel a bit confused. Grateful, because I seem to be doing a good service, but also rather guilty. I don't deserve this praise -- it was too simple! It was "easy" for me! Other composers/designers stuggle in turmoil, working all hours, creative process churning, and I just do it!
I don't know about other artistic people, but I'm a background processor. When I need to write some music, I futz around, look at the theme, look up lyrics, play Peggle, until I finally sit down to write, get the idea on paper, go away for awhile, repeat. If I need alot of ideas, this can be a process of weeks, but if the one idea is completely sound, it goes very fast.
I suppose what we all need to remember is that we do have special talents, and the important thing is to improve those talents. If you can do something both good and quickly, you've probably improved your skills alot! What impresses others may seem like child's play to you. So take praise to gain perspective on your own abilities - I have gotten better, and there's more I want to do.
I personally want to challenge myself more if I can, write something longer or more challenging. Any ideas?
There are certain projects I need to work hard on, especially longer choral works or personal web designs. However, most of what I do just doesn't take me a very long time to do. An award-winning piece of mine only took 6 hours to write (granted, it was only 2:30 minutes long, but still), my latest electronic piece only took a half hour or so (and that's only 2 minutes long again, but still). I'm a web designer by trade, and as all of us know, most of "design" is actually updating and maintenance. Once the design is in place, things can get very simple. I made exhibits for the Historic Commission, which I felt proud of, but updating them is very simple. However, I get unadulterated praise for these updates.
It makes me feel a bit confused. Grateful, because I seem to be doing a good service, but also rather guilty. I don't deserve this praise -- it was too simple! It was "easy" for me! Other composers/designers stuggle in turmoil, working all hours, creative process churning, and I just do it!
I don't know about other artistic people, but I'm a background processor. When I need to write some music, I futz around, look at the theme, look up lyrics, play Peggle, until I finally sit down to write, get the idea on paper, go away for awhile, repeat. If I need alot of ideas, this can be a process of weeks, but if the one idea is completely sound, it goes very fast.
I suppose what we all need to remember is that we do have special talents, and the important thing is to improve those talents. If you can do something both good and quickly, you've probably improved your skills alot! What impresses others may seem like child's play to you. So take praise to gain perspective on your own abilities - I have gotten better, and there's more I want to do.
I personally want to challenge myself more if I can, write something longer or more challenging. Any ideas?
Labels: the process
posted by Jamie at
2:58 PM
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